Heartful & Mindful Retreat

Offered to you by Patrick Smolders, mindfulness facilitator at B-Present.nl.

Our retreat resort in Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy in the High Vosges, France

Patrick Smolders is an experienced Mindfulness and Zen meditation trainer. He guides in a pleasant and involved way. Because of his humor, the lessons are serious and relaxed. I have followed his training with great pleasure and I benefit from it every day.

- Simone van Dijk

Patrick Smolders, mindfulness trainer as well as facilitator at the Heartful & Mindful Retreat

Approach

Approach

A short overview of the characteristics of the Heartful & Mindful Retreat:

Mildness, heartfulness & mindfulness, to reconnect with what lives inside from a friendly and open awareness.

The program provides daily - in addition to meditation - also in healthy and delicious meals, walks, yoga, percussion and free to spend hours.

In Ban-sur-Meurthe Clefcy, amidst the beautiful unspoiled nature of the High Vosges.

Full board, that is, including the accommodation, meals and the retreat program.

Ten days solely for yourself

Sunday 29 april to wednesday 9 may: Ten days of quietude and space for yourself, leaving daily routines behind. Ten days of space for all that goes on inside of you, in a beautiful environment that supports all this: The beautiful mountain landscape of the High Vosges. As a result, an inner clarity automatically comes into being, so that you can easily determine your course / rejuvenate.

Back soon

For your everyday life - soon back in Germany or France - or wherever you live - that means: More fulfillment, more congruence with what lives inside of you and what motivates you in your life. This clarity also means less worrying, less stress, a greater sense of fulfillment, autonomy and freedom in your life.

Zonnestralen

Questions? Special requests?

This web page is given its form with dedication. But of course it may be that not all your questions have been answered yet. Or maybe you have special requests. In all these cases: Do not hesitate and ask your questions using the web form (clicking will open it in a new tab).

Visit the Meet-up on Friday, March 2nd

You are also welcome for free participation in the Retreats Meet-Up (language spoken exclusively English) on Friday, March 2, 19:00 - 19:30 (CET, Central European Time). You can participate in two ways: Being present in person at the B-Present mindfulness studio in Utrecht (The Netherlands), or via the real-time video conference. You can submit your questions using the web form.

A gentle trainer. Patrick embodies some kind of peace or space, whereby you automatically experience more space in yourself, a kind of deepening in yourself, which is apparently experienced by more people.

-Beatrijs van der Pas

More about the facilitator

Although you can read a lot on this website, you may want a more direct impression of the approach of the facilitator of the Heartful & Mindful Retreat. Besides free participation in the Meet-up on March 2nd, you can also get acquainted with the series Extra Short Yoga, which Patrick Smolders has provided free of charge. You can find the series here (clicking will open a new browser tab).

Structure

Program structure & time table

We are nature

As a human being, we are not only surrounded by nature, we are nature. As humans we are all that: body, nervous system, senses. Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and sense of touch. Not to forget interoception, which includes a lot: the ability to be aware of body temperature, sense of balance, heartbeat, breathing movement, sleep, hunger and thirst. The healthy functioning of a human being is connected with the senses. We are sensory beings.

One organ is very special in our species (homo sapiens): the brain, especially the neo-cortex, which uses a lot of energy. It is giving us our typical human characteristics. It requires a relatively large amount of energy, fuel, nutrition.

Mildness and balance

It makes sense to reflect on this: We might experience mindfulness as something quite effortless. And yet, at the brain level, this consumes energy. From that point of view, it is evident that the bow can not be stretched continuously. In other words: One cannot be mindful 24 hours a day.

That's why this 10-day retreat program is based upon mildness and balance. Which means: Providing sufficient rest and sleep, leasure time, and tasty food of good quality. All of that determines how we feel, it determines our mental state. And of course, in the case of little (and protein-poor) food and with less sleep, one will feel 'different', light in the head. That will not happen to you in this retreat.

The day structure facilitates feeling comfortable and at ease, which in turn facilitates the act of being close to oneself, observing whatever presents itself inside one's mind. Now let's take a look at the day structure in more detail:

06:45 AMA friendly bell sounds in the corridor. Opportunity for washing, showering or a fresh pond dive. Sleeping a little longer is fine, at 7:30 am the second bell will be ringing from the corridor, so one can join in at 07:55 am.

07:15 AMThe program starts in the meditation hall with yoga, followed by meditation, alternated with walking meditation.

08.20 AMBreakfast is waiting for us. We can enjoy breakfast in silence.

08:50 AMAfter breakfast we'll start with a slow walking meditation, and then sit for 30 minutes.

09:30 AMA morning walk in quietude through the beautiful surrounding nature. Given the variation in routes, times may vary a bit.

11:20 AM Meditation, yoga, deep perception, to end with a meditation session once again. Deep Perception is a form of heartful and mindful listening and speaking, a form of non-violent communication, connecting communication.

In culinary terms, too, a well-groomed retreat

13:10 PMOne wouldn't want to miss the lunch...

13:55 PM Leasure time. Depending on your needs, you can spend these hours in silence in the meditation hall, take a refreshing dip in the pond, or take a walk in the beautiful surrounding nature. Those who like to walk a bit longer are free to skip the percussion hour (starting 17:00).

17:00 PMThe daily meditative percussion-uur.

Percussion is tact and timing. Which requires to be fully present in this moment. There is nothing to achieve. And no one will judge your play. In other words: This part also has an uninhibited character.

And yet, percussion is top sport for one's entire nervous system, one's brain and senses. Percussion promotes mutual communication and connection between the various brain parts. One is free to participate and enjoy the sounds, the interaction, the rhythms as they arise in the moment.

18:00 PM How detached would one want to be? One can enjoy a delicious and healthy dinner. Prepared by Nathalie who has an excellent culinary reputation. You probably don't want to miss a dinner like that! Noble silence in the act of enjoying one's dinner. Inbetween the dishes, it's alright to have a conversation.

Finally, with regard to meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), any personal dietary requirements are respected as much as possible. Obviously, a retreat is not there to revel- in whichever activity. Yet, there's no need having any hesitation enjoying a glass of regional wine during dinner - that is, if you like. By default the meals are flexitarian (meaning: semi-vegetarian). However, there is the option (without any extra charge) for having vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the enrollment interview (telephone or skype) you'll be asked about your dietary preferences and requirements.

19:15 PMMeditative evening program in the meditation hall.

In the middle of the High Vosges, surrounded by quietude and nature

20:00 PMAn optional evening walk, that is, one is free to or not to participate. In addition, a beautiful sunset belongs to the possibilities. The walk will end around 21:20 PM.

21:20 PMDepending on your needs, you can spend another hour in the meditation hall (in silence) or elsewhere in our retreat resort. If you already want to go to bed, that is completely fine.

22:30 PMNoble silence is kept at night. Silence has definitely its place and value. Beside the retreat participant, there are no other guests at our resort, so that everyone can enjoy a healthy night's sleep. The next morning, a friendly bell will be sounding from the corridor at at 6.45 am.

Questions? Special requests?

This web page has been given its form with dedication. Yet, you might still have questions unanswered. Or maybe you have special requests. In all these cases: Do not hesitate and ask your questions via the web form.

Visit the Meet-up on Friday, March 2nd

You are also welcome for participation in the Retreat Meet-Up, at no charge. This will be at Friday, March 2, 19:00 - 19:30 PM. No charge applicable. You can participate in two ways: Being present in person at the B-Present mindfulness studio in Utrecht, or via the real-time video conference. You can submit your questions via the web form.

"I'm so glad having ten days just to tune in with what I've lost somewhat - my inside"

"The qualities of this retreat, too, help me embodying in daily life all that I discovered in myself during the retreat"

More about the facilitator

Although you can read a lot on this website, you may want a more direct impression of the approach of the facilitator of the Heartful & Mindful Retreat. Besides free participation in the Meet-up on March 1, you can also get acquainted with the series Extra Short Yoga, which Patrick Smolders has provided free of charge. You can find the series here (clicking will open a new browser tab).

Contra-indications

Contra-indications

People who tend to psychosis or who are under psychiatric treatment are resolutely advised against participation.

Also, those who are completely unfamiliar yet with open awareness meditation are resolutely advised against participation. One can build familiarity with open awareness meditation through an MBSR Mindfulness training or by participating in a suitable meditation group. Below, one can read something about open awareness.

Each of the points above is very essential and is therefore discussed in the telephone intake interview.

Open awareness

Open awareness is easiest to describe by making clear what it is not. Open attention differs 180° from a 'picky' awareness. A picky awareness is an awareness that functions selectively. It wants to see certain things and want to cover other things.

An uninhibited mind

Open awareness is observing in complete openness, from an uninhibited mind. Which increases the discernment, that is, one is getting a clearer view of the preferences and patterns in our total functioning. Practically this means that the mind has room for whatever presents itself: thoughts, a mood, a tickle, or whatever - it is all welcome in awareness.

Nothing to be achieved

In that absolute openness, no striving is active. There is nothing to achieve, there is no goal-directed effort. Observing, noticing whatever is presenting itself. That's all. And that is what is called 'open awareness'.

For those interested: In the older en newer Buddhist traditions and approaches, there are many terms for this open awareness: Zen, chan, son, vipassana, direct perception, paccakkha, pratyaksha, open awareness, mindfulness, choiceless awareness. And those not interested can forget it straight away. Terminology isn't the essence.

"I'm so glad having ten days just to tune in with what I've lost somewhat - my inside"

"The qualities of this retreat, too, help me embodying in daily life all that I discovered in myself during the retreat"

The special thing about theHeartful & Mindful Retreat

Deep Perception

Daily space for Deep Perception, which is a form of mindful and heartful listening and speaking. It is a form of connecting communication aka non-violent communication.

Quietude walks in nature

Daily walks to your heart's content in the beautiful nature of the High Vosges, directly from our retreat at 680 meters altitude in the High Vosges.

Hoge Vogezen bij zonsondergang

Smooth transition

In many retreats, the transition from retreat to the period afterwards is rather abrupt. In order to bridge the gap between the 10 days of the retreat and the period thereafter, it helps to use less traditional forms every day, such as deep perception (non-violent communication), meditative percussion and nature and silence walks. All of that contributes to the embodying of heartfulness, mindfulness and mildness in your life, especially in the period following the ten-day retreat.

Join the Meet-up on Friday, march 2nd

You are also welcome for participation in the Retreat Meet-Up, at no charge. This will be at Friday, March 2, 19:00 - 19:30 PM. No charge applicable. You can participate in two ways: Being present in person at the B-Present mindfulness studio in Utrecht, or via the real-time video conference. You can submit your questions via the web form.

Patrick Smolders is an experienced Mindfulness and Zen meditation trainer. He guides in a pleasant and involved way. Because of his humor, the lessons are serious and relaxed. I have followed his training with great pleasure and I benefit from it every day.

- Simone van Dijk

More about the facilitator

Although you can read a lot on this website, you may want a more direct impression of the approach of the facilitator of the Heartful & Mindful Retreat. Besides free participation in the Meet-up on March 2nd, you can also get acquainted with the series Extra Short Yoga, which Patrick Smolders has provided free of charge. You can find the series here (clicking will open a new browser tab).

Options

Overnight options

Tuinhuisje

Option 1 (photo above)Apart from the rooms, a garden shed is available. In this case, the 10-day retreat price is € 975,- all-inclusive pp (= per person). BOOKED ALREADY

Indonesië

Aboriginal

Option 2 (photos above)If you and your partner like to take part together in the Heartful & Mindful retreat, then you might prefer a two person room with own shower and toilet. One may opt for the Indonesian or the Aboriginal-style room. In this case, the amount is € 1.035,- all-inclusive pp.

Perles

Réunion

Option 3 (photos above)There is also the choice to stay overnight in a two person room with shared shared shower and toilet. There are two such rooms: 'Perles' and 'Réunion'. Both rooms are in French colonial style. The amount for each of these rooms is € 1.015,- all-inclusive pp.

Marrakesh

Afrika

Option 4 (photos above)Option No. 4 is to stay in a three person room. There is one in Marrakesh-style and one in African style. The retreat's total amount (program + maels included, and including VAT and tourist tax as well) is € 995,- pp.

The beds

By default, the beds are are placed apart (separate) from each other.

Couples

As a couple, there is the option of choosing a two person room and linking the beds together. Everything that has been said here about noble silence at night is applicable to couples too. Besides, a couple might stay in a three person room provided their nights keep platonic and the beds are kept in seperate setup.

Actual availability

At this moment (februari 21st), at enrollment one optionally might indicate a preference for the options 2 to 4, using the web form (clicking will open a new browser tab).

All-inclusive

Amounts as mentioned at this web site are all-inclusive prices, including the retreat program plus the accomodation and the meals. VAT and tourist tax are already included in the amounts as mentioned at this web site.

Price

The all-inclusive amount for this 10-day retreat is between € 975,- and € 1.035,-. The exact amount depends upon the accomodation option you choose for, please see the tab Options.

All-in

The paid amount is the total package, including the program, the accomodation and the meals. VAT and tourist tax are already included in all amounts mentioned here.

Enrollment

One can easily enroll by using the web form. Surely we will deal discretely with your personal data, conform the Terms and Conditions and the Code of Ethics of B-Present Mindfulness.

After enrollment

After enrollment, a short telephone or skype interview will take place. One will receive the retreat contract plus invoice. If the contract is agreed upon, one may pay the invoice. The idea behind the retreat agreement is that the freedom and space of one person should not harm the other. For the same reason, a confidential adviser has also been appointed. After payment your registration is final. You will always receive a confirmation of your payment by e-mail.

Hard warranty

If case the program, no matter the nature of the unforeseen calamity, must be cancelled altogether, the organizer, B-Present.nl, by Patrick Smolders, will in all cases fully guarantee a complete refund within 30 days of the paid amount.